ə, aɪˈdiə noun
1.
any conception existing in the mind as a result of mental understanding, awareness, or activity.
2.
a thought, conception, or notion: That is an excellent idea.
3.
an impression: He gave me a general idea of how he plans to run the department.
4.
an opinion, view, or belief: His ideas on raising children are certainly strange.
5.
a plan of action; an intention: the idea of becoming an engineer.
6.
a groundless supposition; fantasy.
7.
Philosophy.
a.
a concept developed by the mind.
b.
a conception of what is desirable or ought to be; ideal.
c.
d.
Kantianism. idea of pure reason.
8.
Music. a theme, phrase, or figure.
9.
Origin:
1400–50; < Late Latin < Greek idéā form, pattern, equivalent to ide- (stem of ideîn to see) + -ā feminine noun ending; replacing late Middle English idee < Middle French < Late Latin, as above; akin to wit1
1400–50; < Late Latin < Greek idéā form, pattern, equivalent to ide- (stem of ideîn to see) + -ā feminine noun ending; replacing late Middle English idee < Middle French < Late Latin, as above; akin to wit1
Related forms
i·de·a·less, adjective
pre·i·de·a, noun
sub·i·de·a, noun
Synonyms
1, 2. Idea, thought, conception, notion refer to a product of mental activity. Idea although it may refer to thoughts of any degree of seriousness or triviality, is commonly used for mental concepts considered more important or elaborate: We pondered the idea of the fourth dimension. The idea of his arrival frightened me. Thought which reflects its primary emphasis on the mental process, may denote any concept except the more weighty and elaborate ones: I welcomed his thoughts on the subject. A thought came to him. Conception suggests a thought that seems complete, individual, recent, or somewhat intricate: The architect's conception delighted them. Notion suggests a fleeting, vague, or imperfect thought: a bare notion of how to proceed. 4. sentiment, judgment.
1, 2. Idea, thought, conception, notion refer to a product of mental activity. Idea although it may refer to thoughts of any degree of seriousness or triviality, is commonly used for mental concepts considered more important or elaborate: We pondered the idea of the fourth dimension. The idea of his arrival frightened me. Thought which reflects its primary emphasis on the mental process, may denote any concept except the more weighty and elaborate ones: I welcomed his thoughts on the subject. A thought came to him. Conception suggests a thought that seems complete, individual, recent, or somewhat intricate: The architect's conception delighted them. Notion suggests a fleeting, vague, or imperfect thought: a bare notion of how to proceed. 4. sentiment, judgment.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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|
Link To idea
00:10
Idea
is always a great word to know.
So is lollapalooza. Does it mean:
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
idea (aɪˈdɪə) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | any content of the mind, esp the conscious mind |
| 2. | the thought of something: the very idea appals me |
| 3. | a mental representation of something: she's got a good idea of the layout of the factory |
| 4. | the characterization of something in general terms; concept: the idea of a square circle is self-contradictory |
| 5. | an individual's conception of something: his idea of honesty is not the same as yours and mine |
| 6. | the belief that something is the case: he has the idea that what he's doing is right |
| 7. | a scheme, intention, plan, etc: here's my idea for the sales campaign |
| 8. | a vague notion or indication; inkling: he had no idea of what life would be like in Africa |
| 9. | significance or purpose: the idea of the game is to discover the murderer |
| 10. | philosophy |
| a. a private mental object, regarded as the immediate object of thought or perception | |
| b. a Platonic Idea or Form | |
| 11. | music a thematic phrase or figure; motif |
| 12. | obsolete a mental image |
| 13. | get ideas to become ambitious, restless, etc |
| 14. | not one's idea of not what one regards as (hard work, a holiday, etc) |
| 15. | that's an idea that is worth considering |
| 16. | the very idea! that is preposterous, unreasonable, etc |
| [C16: via Late Latin from Greek: model, pattern, notion, from idein to see] | |
| usage It is usually considered correct to say that someone has the idea of doing something, rather than the idea to do it: he had the idea of taking (not the idea to take) a short holiday | |
| i'dealess | |
| —adj | |
| Idea (aɪˈdɪə) | |
| —n | |
| another name for Form | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
idea
1430, "figure, image, symbol," from L. idea "idea," and in Platonic philosophy "archetype," from Gk. idea "ideal prototype," lit. "look, form," from idein "to see," from PIE *wid-es-ya-, suffixed form of base *weid- "to see" (see vision). Sense of "result of thinking" first recorded 1645.
"Men of one idea, like a hen with one chicken, and that a duckling." [Thoreau, "Walden"]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
idea i·de·a (ī-dē'ə)
n.
Something, such as a thought or conception, that potentially or actually exists in the mind as a product of mental activity.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
IDEA definition
1.
2.
(1996-02-16)
American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
IDEA
|
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
No one should be surprised by the notion of teaching as a performance, although some of you may be appalled at the idea.
The idea of the student as a consumer who essentially shops for the courses that suit his taste.
But where no abstract idea governs her she can be direct, accurate, and convincing.
The idea was to take so little that the heiress wouldn't notice-and so they could come back again.
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